I forgot to put a disclaimer so: I do not own Deltora Quest
Chapter 2
Matthew could do nothing, but Mark took action. He jumped up prompting the guards to push their swords in closer towards him. Mark could only look at the guards. He did not know what sentence to start out with. He looked at all of the guard's faces. He then saw a guard he recognized. "Milo! Surely you remember me," Mark said hopefully. Milo paled as he was singled out by this stranger. "I do not know him," Milo said quickly to the other guards. Mark knew he had to do something fast or the guards would kill him and Matthew. "Please give me a council with King Lief. I will give him no harm," Mark said pleadingly. The strongest guard, who Mark thought he recognized, said, "There is no reason for us to give you a council. Just return to the town, and we will organize a council for you." Mark was now desperate and near to tears, "Milo! Please, show me and my brother mercy! We mean no harm to any part of Deltora!" Milo looked at Mark and one single flash of recognition came across his face. It was gone an instant, but Milo softened.
He made the guards form a small circle. Mark was sweating now. Deltora was in trouble. If he could not talk to Lief, Deltora could crumble. Matthew had finally got up and was looking around at the walls, "This architecture is absolutely beautiful." Mark looked at the walls and could not help but agree. The first time he had seen the palace, it had been in ruins because of the dragon Rage. Now it was rebuilt and did look beautiful. Looking around he saw a little girl poking her head out from behind a wall. She saw him looking and hid. He walked toward the wall, and she peeked out again. "Come here," he said softly. "I will not hurt you." She slowly walked toward him. He thought that she looked familiar but dismissed the thought, thinking there was a little girl at home who looked like her. She came closer and gave him a hug. He hugged her back as the guards turned around. Their hard expressions turned soft when they saw the two.
"We will give you a council," the head guard said. Mark finally recognized him. It was Barda. Mark let the girl go, but she ran towards him again. He looked at the guards, and they motioned for him to bring her along. He grabbed Matthew and they followed the guards. "If you saved Deltora, why do they not remember you?" Matthew questioned. Mark answered, "They had to forget me to save Deltora. I was feeding the Shadow Lord power. They still remember the battle though." Matthew nodded, showing he understood. Mark hurried up to a guard and asked him why the girl was alone. The guard answered, "When the dragon attacked, her parents were killed." He shuddered, "She was devastated. Only Jasmine could calm her down. Lief gave her and a few other children room here until they are adopted." Mark nodded and looked at the little girl who was holding his hand. He knew how he knew her. She had been trying to save her dead mother. They finally reached the throne room. Lief and Jasmine were sitting in thrones. "My lord and Lady, these boys were found falling from the sky. They seeked a council," Barda explained. Jasmine said abruptly, "They must be spies. Only Shadowland spies can fall from the sky." Lief shook his head saying, "Jasmine, if everybody you did not trust were executed, we would have no kingdom." Jasmine said in disagreement, "You are too trusting Lief. Lief shook his head again and said, "The Belt shows these strangers do not have malicious intents." He turned toward Mark, "Who are you? What do you seek." Mark said clearly, "I am Mark. You have met me before but forgot to save Deltora."
Jasmine looked at him and laughed, "I highly doubt you have saved Deltora." Mark knew he was losing them, "But it is true! I saved your lives! I saved Barda's! And John's too! Think deeply and you will remember!" Lief and Jasmine looked at him with empty stares. The girl that had been holding Mark's hand piped up suddenly, "He is a nice man. I trust him." Jasmine looked at the girl, and Mark knew she felt a maternal bond towards the child. "He is not a spy. Zeea does not trust evil people," she said surely. Mark took the bag he had been carrying off of his shoulder and brought a journal out. He went to the thrones and showed the drawings to Lief and Jasmine. At first they looked with empty interest, but they saw the picture of Mark's sword. They looked up simultaneously and said, "Mark. You did save Deltora." Mark was content he had finally convinced them.